Trail Blazers’ Broadcast Team Faces Major Changes

Next season, the Trail Blazers’ broadcasting lineup will undergo significant shifts.

With new owner Tom Dundon at the helm, a series of cost-cutting measures have prompted several staff members not to return, leading to layoffs across various Portland stations.

Kevin Calabro, who has been calling the games since 2016, shared with The Athletic that his contract ends on June 30. He decided not to continue after receiving a reduced offer for his new contract.

“It was an easy decision. It wasn’t worth my time,” Calabro stated, expressing sadness over the change since he values the team and its players highly.

In a similar vein, Travis Demers, who served as the team’s radio play-by-play announcer for the past seven years, also wasn’t retained after his contract expired at the end of June.

Reports indicate that while Demers may return in a minor capacity, no final decision has been made.

Michael Holton, Demers’ longtime radio partner with 19 seasons under his belt, was also let go. Holton played for the Blazers from 1986 to 1988 and had spent the last nine years as a co-host for halftime and postgame shows.

The firings also impacted other on-air staff, including TV studio host Neil Everett, co-host Jamie Hudson, and broadcast statistician Tom Haberstroh.

Dundon’s push for cost-cutting follows layoffs of about 70 employees this spring, many of whom were high-ranking executives on the business side of operations.

Alongside these layoffs, travel accommodations have been reduced, and fan giveaways like commemorative T-shirts at home playoff games have been eliminated.

During an appearance on Barstool’s “Pardon My Take” in April, NBA commissioner Adam Silver defended Dundon, remarking on the perception that he isn’t willing to invest money in the franchise.

“People say he’s not really willing to spend money. Remember, he’s a guy who just spent around $4.5 billion to buy the team. Calling him cheap just doesn’t add up,” Silver emphasized.

Dundon’s approach isn’t entirely new. When he took over the Hurricanes in 2018, Hall of Fame announcer Chuck Kaiton left due to a refusal to accept a pay cut.

He also faced backlash recently for having his child’s name featured on the Stanley Cup, while the names of players and staff were omitted.